Radioiodine therapy for the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism is the safest, most effective (95% success rate) and in the long run, the least expensive treatment available.  There are no adverse side effects or pilling problems as with Tapazole, and the potential for anaesthetic problems, damage to parathyroid glands or possibilities of recurrence associated with surgery are virtually eliminated.  It is the therapy of choice among feline specialists. 

Kindness Animal Hospital's treatment program includes consultation with the referring veterinarian and client, treatment, radiation monitoring, 5-7 day hospital stay and litter disposal kit.  The referring veterinarian performs all pre and post treatment work-ups.

Discharge of the patient is in accordance with strict Federal and State nuclear regulatory guidelines.  Typically the patients can be discharged after   5 - 7  days.  The owners will have to continue to follow specific home care instructions for two weeks following discharge.  If the owners elect, the cat can continue to be housed in our nuclear medicine ward for an additional charge.  The cats can not be boarded/hospitalized elsewhere.  If the patient requires medical attention for the two weeks following treatment please call our office. 

The risks of I-131 therapy are very small and this treatment is ideally suited for those patients with no other significant abnormalities, however, we are particularly concerned with the kidneys.  The hyperthyroid state allows for increased renal perfusion, which can mask chronic renal failure and routine blood tests of hyperthyroid cats may be perfectly normal.  Treatment of the condition with surgery or radioiodine could result in overt renal failure once the patient returns to a euthyroid state.  Post treatment problems can largely be ruled out by placing the cat on Tapazole first and maintaining the cat in a euthyroid state for 30 days.  The results of blood work should then be representative of what post treatment values will be.   Please review the following when considering referring a patient for radioiodine therapy:

1. The pretreatment diagnostics should include:  CBC/Chem screen, urinalysis and a T4 (ideally within 30 days of treatment).  The patient should be on Tapazole/PTU  and euthyroid for 30 days prior to performing the pretreatment work-up.  In addition we will require all relevant medical history for the patient.

2. Patients must discontinue thyroid medication and other drugs that may interfere with the treatment process.  We will consult with you to discuss this scheduling. 

3. Treatment is performed on an appointment basis only.  Upon admission, the patients will be housed in our nuclear medicine ward for the duration of the treatment (5-7days).  The nuclear medicine ward is off-limits to all except those personnel specially trained in radiation safety and who are monitored. 

4. Due to the Federal and State nuclear regulations, owners can not visit their pets during treatment, treatment can not be terminated early and early release of the patient is not allowed.  We are sorry but these are the federal and state requirements.  However, owners will be given daily updates on the status of the pets.

In summary, Kindness Animal Hospital's I-131 therapy:

Includes:

	Review of all medical records including pre treatment testing.
	Consultation with the referring veterinarian, owner and a physical examination upon admission.
	Radioiodine treatment and daily veterinary health checks.
	Radiation monitoring by our certified Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) during the patient's stay.
	Housing in our nuclear medicine ward during the treatment process.
	Post treatment counseling with the owner to review all at home instructions prior to discharge.
	Litter disposal kit including clumping cat litter, scooper, plastic disposal bags and gloves.
	Follow-up consultations, as needed, with the owner and referring veterinarian to discuss the post treatment test results.

Does Not Include:

	Pre and post treatment testing performed by the referring veterinarian.
	Medications needed by the patient during his/her stay and, in the unlikely event of an emergency, medical tests or procedures performed during the emergency.

Potential problems/side effects with radioiodine therapy include:

	Patients may become hypothyroid and in rare cases they may need thyroid supplementation.
	Sore throat, dysphagia.  This is usually transient but a permanent voice change is possible.
	In extremely rare cases, acute thyroid toxicity may occur during therapy